Antitheft device for fluid containers



Jan. 3'1, 1933. H, w. BATES ANTITHEFT DEvIcE FOR FLUID CONTAINERS Filed May 5, 195o Attorney Patented Jan. 31, 1933 HENRY BATES,` 0F JACKSONy TOWNSHIP, PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB OF im'rlaNT` .ol-FICE .i

ONE-HALF TO GEORGE HAGAQOF MARSHALL, INDLANA.

, ANTITHEFT DEVICE Fon FLUID Coir'rANiiRs Application led Hay 3,

My invention relates to improvements in anti-theft device for fluid containers andit relates more especially to the features pointledy out in the annexed claims.

is The purpose of my'invention is to provide iadevice which will prevent the theftof liq-` without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Figure 1 is an elevation in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lower end, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the locking plate in position corresponding to the position of the lower end of the tube in to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detached elevation partly in section showing the locking plate and its supporting disk.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the locking 35 plate in locked position.

Fig. 7 is a similar View to Fig. 6, showing the parts in unlocked position.

In installing my invention I may use whatever alternatives or equivalents of construc- 40 tion that the exigencies of varying conditions may demand without departing from the broad spirit of the invention.

The safety device maybe attached to any desired type of container. It is immaterial 45 whether it be a barrel, a rectangular or round tank, a vacuum or gravity feed supply for automobile, airplane, truck or motor boat uses. The device is readily adapted to any of these requirements by simply chang- `50 ing the length of the safety tube.

1930. Serial No. 449,502.

As instanced in the drawing the device may be attached toan automobile or other tank with a flat top 1 and a flat bottom 2. The upper end 3 of the safety-f tube is enlarged in diameterl and the lower end 4 o f this tube is reduced infdiameter so that the volumetric displacement isrelatively small, holding a very small Supply of fuel. The thief who Lplans to run away with the car cannot drive tube 4 in addition to that in the usual vacuum tank. It is of course obvious that my safety 'device can also be installed in the regulation vacuum tank. When this isdone the only* avlaiblable gas will be that found in-.the tu 4.

The lower end ofthe safety tube is threaded,`externally, at 5 and it is beveled at 25. This bevel cooperates with the beveled entrance 24 leading into the fitting 20. kA chamber 26 serves to; collect sediment from the fuel undery vacuum feeding conditions. WhenV a gravity feed installation is tol be made, the vacuumline 29 is removed and the threaded hole in which it was pivoted plugged. The fuel -exit will be through the gravity feedoutlet through the shut-ofi' 27. In the use of the word threaded in the claims I do not limitmyself to this form of 'retention for the tube 4 in the fitting 2() as any desired equivalent maybe substituted. [There is a side entrance at 23'leading to the chamber 2 6 when thetube 4 is turned on its axisfsov that the opening 6 is in line with the opening 23. This rela-tion only exists 'when thel withdrawal of fuel from the container is authorized. W'hen the withdrawal visgunauthorized the tube opening 6 will be removed from the inlet 23. This is effected by turningthe tube on its axis a quarter or -a halfturn by meansy of the cap 7, secured to its upper end by welding or otherwise, and the wings 8 forming a part of the cap. The upper end 3 of the safety tube fits in the reinforcing ring 19. This ring and the fitting 20 may be welded or otherwise attached to the container walls 1 and 2respectively. If desired, an opencage (not shown) may be made a continuation of the bevel 24 so as to assist in leading the tube 4 into the threaded opening ofthe fitting 20.

The locking position of the safety tube 3 4 is determined by the bolt-end 15 of the locking plate 14 when it enters the recesses 21 formed in the reinforcing ring 19. This plate has a central opening 17 in which the flattened end 12 of the lock cylinder is-positioned. It has a guiding projection 16. The ends 15 and 16 slide in recesses formedon the underside of the cap 7. A recess 13 is formed on the underside of the cap 7 in which the lock retaining washers 10 and 11 are positioned. The lock barrel or escutcbeon 9'is served by a conventional type .of key 22. `The locking plate 14 is retained in place by a fiat plate 1S. There are two or more of the recesses 21. In the drawing three are shown. Oney requires a half turn of the cap7 and another only a quarter turn. The plate 14 is moved positively in both directions through a movement of the key.

The operation of my device is very simple. So long as the container is topermit the removal of its contents Without hindrance the tube remains locked, as shown in Fig. 1. Just as soon asitis `desired to prevent the removal of the contents the plate 14 is Withdrawn from the recess 21 by the key, and thecap 7 with its tube V3-4 is turned around one-quarterv of a revolution, until another recess 21 is reached. Here the plate 14 is again made to enter a recess, thus eflectually locking the tube and sealing off the exit from the container or tank. In automobile usevthe key is moved to withdraw the plate 1 4 from its recess 21, and the entire tube 3-4 1s unscrewed from the threaded seat at its bottom and bodily removed from the tanlnthus leaving` a filling opening of usual size. When filled the tube is replaced andthe bolt reentered into its recess. My device is of course adapted to protect the liquid or gaseous contents of tanks, containers etc.

What I claim is:

1. In anti-theft devices, a container having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, a tube positioned in the inlet and outlet simultaneously, means for threading the tube in the outlet, and means for locking the tube in the inlet.

2. In anti-theft devices, a container having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom,a tube threaded into the outlet said tubev havfrom, means for separating the openings from each other by a partial rotation of the tube on its axis, and means for locking the tube in either one of the two positions.

3. In anti-theft devices, a tube comprising large and small `diameter portions, a threaded end for the small diameter said end having a side opening therethrough, a cap at the large end, a key lock operable from the outside of vthe cap, and a bolt on the inside of the cap and tube operated by the key.

4. In anti-theft devices, a container, an inlet thereto comprising a reinforcing ring surrounding the inlet, an outlet therefrom comprising a reinforcing fitting having a threaded recess communicating by a passageway to the inside of the container and having an outlet therefrom terminatingoutside of the container, a tube threaded at one end adapted to venter the threaded recess and having a sides' opening near its free end, a cap for the tube engaging the reinforcing ring, and a lock on the cap adapted to hold the tube in a plurality of fixed positions against turning in the ring.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

HENRY W. 1 BATES.

ing an opening registering with an opening leading from the interior of the container to the interior of the tube and an outlet there- 

